Upholding the dignity of every single person is a fundamental aspect of Catholic teaching. That is why the Church vehemently opposes the sex trade and pornography which degrades people and turns them into objects for the selfish sexual gratification of others. 

One amazing example of this Catholic teaching in action is the story of Saint Vitalis of Gaza. Saint Vitalis was a monk from Gaza in present day Palestine. At the age of 60, he travelled to the city of Alexandria. Upon his arrival, he obtained the name and address of every prostitute in the city. He then hired himself out as a day laborer, doing hard physical labor, especially for a man his age, and took his daily wage to hire one of these women at the end of the day. Instead of exploiting these women like the other men who hired them, he then would teach her about her dignity and value as a woman and that she did not deserve to be used by men as an object of their lust. Many prostitutes in the city abandoned their profession and became good wives and mothers because of his compassionate care and respect.